One of my latest patterns was a wonderful opportunity to sew lots of different pieces. Isn't it great when a simple technique allows you to sew such variety of projects: pouches, boxes and baskets, gift bags, tote bags, shopping bags? I made 26 pouches, baskets and boxes for this pattern and the pieces below are my favorite ones. With just a little additional effort, some … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing straps for bags
Another boring step that delays the finishing of a bag is preparing the straps. Cutting strips of fabric, inserting batting/interfacing... I am not a fan of it! But I found a way to simplify and speed up the process! And it has a name: webbing! I will show you how quickly I finished my latest bags: But to make the process really quick and easy, you need one more thing: double … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing zippered pockets for bags
For my bags usually I buy two fabrics from a collection, one for the front panel and the other for the rest. But do you know that you can use "border" type fabric, like the one below? This is the design that runs on the entire width of the fabric. If there is enough contrast in color/motif/scale, you can easily cut pieces for a bag. Here is my bag!I bought the fabric for a quilt but now I … [Read more...]
Tips for installing magnetic snaps on bags
Is there a step/task that you don't like when sewing bags? To me, it's the lining with its requirements, like pockets and magnetic snaps (my favorite closure for bags). If I am in hurry, it is tempting to sew some simple slip pockets and skip the magnetic snaps. But nice zippered pockets and magnetic snap closure add a lot to a bag, so I am glad that I found a way to take the stress out of this … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing with foam
Foam (like Bosal In-R-Form, Pellon Flex Foam, Soft and Stable by Annie) is one of my favorite types of interfacing that I use for bags and pouches. But foam is bulky and if it remains in the seam allowances, you will end up with bulky seam allowances. For many patterns this is not a problem (I use it this way a lot in my bags) but it really depends on the construction of the bag/pouch. Here … [Read more...]
Flex Frame Pouch Tutorial
In 2012 I made these little flex frame pouches for my 3 sisters and a few weeks ago I saw that one my sisters is still using it! I told myself that they need new ones as soon as possible... ... and the opportunity arrived... With my new SPREAD HOPE pattern you can make small heart blocks and you can use them in a few different ways. I turned some of the heart blocks into pouches. Sewing … [Read more...]
How to sew zipper pockets for bags
I know that when I sew bags, I want to add nice zipper pockets inside. Sometimes (not often, fortunately) I am in such a hurry that I skip this step and instead I add simple slip pockets. I just found a way to sew some wonderful pockets and the best thing about them is that you can sew a few (2 or 10!) when you have some spare time and use them when needed. I used for these samples faux … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing with 12wt thread
12wt thread is a very thick thread. For my first experience with it I chose to free motion quilt this quilt. The thread is Aurifil. It was one of my most amazing quilting experiences. While quilting this quilt, I learned how helpful the Jeans needle is. Since then, this needle type is the only one I use for quilting and for sewing bags. For those that still need to experiment with free … [Read more...]
How to add interfacing to vinyl/ faux leather
The vinyl/ faux leather can be used without any interfacing in some bags; in this case, a heavyweight fabric for lining is desired. It depends on the look you want for your bag. You can opt to add interfacing for added body and structure but also to add a lovely texture to it. I wanted to quilt my bag panels and that's why I chose a foam interfacing. Foam comes in both fusible and non fusible … [Read more...]
Tips for sewing faux leather/vinyl bags – I
There are so many types of faux leather/vinyl on the market. This material is used for upholstery so it is widely available in big fabric stores, in the home decor department. If you want to buy it online, try on Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, Joann, Fabric.com. It comes in different thicknesses and obvious, the thicker ones produce more bulk and it is harder to sew with them- it depends on the … [Read more...]